NFL: 'Likely' Patriots Deflated Balls, Brady Was 'Aware'

Watch: NFL's Patriots, Deflategate Report Released

In January Tom Brady met the media and denied any knowledge of tampering with footballs. On Wednesday the NFL issued a report that said the Patriots' quarterback was likely “at least generally aware” of the rules violations.

In January Tom Brady met the media and denied any knowledge of tampering with footballs. On Wednesday the NFL issued a report that said the Patriots' quarterback was likely “at least generally aware” of the rules violations.

After more than 14 weeks, the NFL investigation of the Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots ended with the release of a 243-page report Wednesday that left little doubt Tom Brady had a role in deflating footballs.

The results of the probe into Deflategate? There was no concrete conclusion in the document issued by attorney Ted Wells, but there are plenty of fingers pointed at the iconic quarterback.

Brady, who denied wrongdoing during a press conference after the scandal broke, seemed to put the issue behind him with his fourth Super Bowl victory. As the investigation dragged, the controversy faded. But the Wells report, although failing to directly indict Brady, raises more questions and indicates there was wrongdoing by team employees.

"It is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules," the report states.

Let's start with Tom Brady's initial response to reports that the Patriots used deflated football games in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts. Brady laughed that January morning. And he kept on chuckling. He called it "ridiculous."

"I think I've heard it all at this point," Brady said during...

(Jeff Jacobs)

Specifically, the reports says that it was "more than probable" that Patriots employees Jim McNally and John Jastremski "participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee." McNally was the officials' locker room attendant and Jastremski an equipment assistant.

Transcripts of text messages between the employees indicates Brady requested game balls be deflated below the NFL-mandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.

"Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady … was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls," the report states.

The report exonerates Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his staff, head equipment manager Dave Schoenfeld and team ownership, stating "we do not believe there was any wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing" by any the parties. Brady, though, is presented as not particularly forthcoming in the report.

"During his interview, Brady denied any knowledge of or involvement in any efforts to deflate game balls after the pre-game inspection by the game officials," the report states. "He claimed that prior to the events surrounding the AFC Championship Game, he did not know McNally's name or anything about McNally's game-day responsibilities, including whether McNally had any role relating to game balls or the game officials.

"We found these claims not plausible and contradicted by other evidence. In fact, during his interview, Jastremski acknowledged that Brady knew McNally and McNally's role as Officials Locker Room attendant. Similarly, McNally told NFL Security that he had been personally told by Brady of Brady's inflation level preference."

Could Brady, 37, or other Patriots personnel face punishment from the NFL?

A statement issued by commissioner Roger Goodell Wednesday indicated NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent will "consider what steps to take in light of the report."

"Both with respect to possible disciplinary action and to any changes in protocols that are necessary to avoid future incidents of this type," Goodell said. "At the same time, we will continue our efforts vigorously to protect the integrity of the game and promote fair play at all times."

Minutes after the report was made public, Patriots owner Robert Kraft issued a defiant 462-word statement in which he reiterated his belief that the Patriots had done "nothing wrong or inappropriate," echoing what he told reporters at the Super Bowl on Jan. 26.

Kraft contends the ball lost air because of atmospheric conditions. The Patriots' 45- 7 victory over the Colts on Jan. 18 came on a cool night.

Eleven of 12 footballs were under the inflation threshold. Both Belichick and Kraft attributed the deflation to science.

"I was convinced that Ted Wells' investigation would find the same factual evidence supported by both scientific formula and independent research as we did and would ultimately exonerate the Patriots," Kraft said in his statement Wednesday. "Based on the explanations I have heard and the studies that have been done, I don't know how the science of atmospheric conditions can be refuted or how conclusions to the contrary can be drawn without some definitive evidence.

"What is not highlighted in the text of the report is that three of the Colts' four footballs measured by at least one official were under the required psi level. As far as we are aware, there is no comparable data available from any other game because, in the history of the NFL, psi levels of footballs have never been measured at halftime, in any climate. If they had been, based on what we now know, it is safe to assume that every cold-weather game was played with under-inflated footballs. As compelling a case as the Wells Report may try to make, I am going to rely on the factual evidence of numerous scientists and engineers rather than inferences from circumstantial evidence."

Kraft, who has a strong relationship with Goodell, said in January that he expected an apology from the league. On Wednesday, he was critical of the overall process.

"We have cooperated and patiently awaited its outcome," Kraft said. "To say we are disappointed in its findings, which do not include any incontrovertible or hard evidence of deliberate deflation of footballs at the AFC Championship Game, would be a gross understatement. In addition, given our level of cooperation throughout the process, I was offended by the comments made in the Wells Report in reference to not making an individual available for a follow-up interview. What the report fails to mention is that he had already been interviewed four times and we felt the fifth request for access was excessive for a part-time game day employee who has a full-time job with another employer."

"While I respect the independent process of the investigation, the time, effort and resources expended to reach this conclusion are incomprehensible to me. Knowing that there is no real recourse available, fighting the league and extending this debate would prove to be futile. We understand and greatly respect the responsibility of being one of 32 in this league and, on that basis, we will accept the findings of the report and take the appropriate actions based on those findings as well as any discipline levied by the league."

The accusation against the Patriots surfaced just hours after the team completed its victory over the Colts. The Colts had expressed concerns about air pressure in the Patriots' football before the game, and the footballs were tested by officials before the game and at halftime.

But pregame levels were not recorded, according to the Wells report. Eleven of the Patriots' footballs and three used by the Colts were found to be underinflated at halftime.

As the NFL investigation began, Belichick and Brady held press conferences in which each pleaded ignorance. The team avoided questions about the investigation in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.

The Wells reports states Brady spent 25 minutes, two seconds on the phone with Jastremski on Jan. 19. They also exchanged 12 text messages.

Although Brady was interviewed by NFL investigators, he refused to furnish email or text message documents. But text messages between McNally and Jastremski from May, October and January suggest Brady requested that footballs be deflated, and that the quarterback provided McNally with shoes and signed footballs as payment for deflating the balls.

In a May 2014 text message exchange, McNally refers to himself as "the deflator."

Also, the report states that video evidence and witness interviews determined McNally took the game football from the officials' locker room and entered a bathroom with the game balls. He remained in the bathroom "for approximately one minute and forty seconds. He then left the bathroom and took the bags of game balls to the field."

McNally is 48 and has worked at Gillette Stadium for 10 years, overseeing the officials' locker room since 2008. Jastremski is 35 and has worked for the Patriots since 2001.

Brady will be forced to answer more questions when he next meets the media. On Wednesday, his father told USA Today that his son is being railroaded.

"I don't have any doubt about my son's integrity — not one bit," Tom Brady Sr. said. "In this country, you're innocent until proven guilty. It just seems Tommy is now guilty until proven innocent. … This thing is so convoluted. They say that possibly — possibly — he was aware of this. The reality is if you can't prove he did it, then he's innocent, and lay off him. That's the bottom line.

"The league had to cover themselves. The reality is they had no conclusive evidence. This was Framegate right from the beginning."